Banjo resonator



(yi/g. Herman Metz Patented Apr. 5, 1927.

UNITED STATES HERMAN F. MIETZ, OF FRANKLHVILLE, NEW JERSEY.

BANJO RESONATOR.

Application filed January 2, 1925. Serial No.

This invention relates to a resonating or amplifier attachn'ient for banjos, and an object of the invention is to provide a resonator or amplifier which is made wholly of wood thereby embodying the well known and definitely established tact that musical sounds are more harmoniously amplified by wood than by any other material, and particularly by metals, which latter have a tendency to add metallic sounds to the notes produced.

Another object of the invention is to provide an amplifier or resonator which is con* structed to permit it to be quickly and easily attached to a banjo or detached therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a resonator or amplifier attachment for banj os in which the resonant proclivities of the rim of the banjo are augmented through its engagement with a suitable sound conveying ring or flange which is in turn rigidly connected to ya suitable sounding board and in spaced relation to the sounding board. j

Other objects of the invention will appear in the following detail description, and in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a section through the improved resonator showing it attached.

Figure 2 is a top plan ot' the resonator.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the improved resonator comprises an annular band l, which is constructed of wood and preferably of laminated layers of wood, so as to provide the proper strength and permit bending ot the band into circular shape. A sounding board 2 is attached to the bottom edge of the band l and this sounding board is preferably concave-convex, with its concave surface disposed upwardly towards the under surface ot the banjo, and it is also formed of a plurality of layers oit wood, which will permit of attractive appearance in the assembling of the device, as well as eliminate liability of warping.

Arranged in a groove formed adjacent the upper end of the band l is a flange or ring 3 which is provided with a plurality of equidistantly spaced sound emitting openings 5 which are circun'iferentially disposed in close proximity to the inner wall of the annular band as suggested in Figure 2 of the drawings. The top edge of the annular band is provided with a substantially rectangular cut away portion 7 which is to provide a clearance space tor th), arm portion S of the banjo which is indicated iu dotted lines in Figure l and by the reference letter A. The inner free edge ot the 'flange 3 terminates in a depending annular rim 6 of a slightly greater width than the thickness ot the flange 3, and said rim 6 provided `with diagonally' disposed slots Gr through which pass the horizontal portions 9 of securing clamps. rlhese securing clamps have upstanding portions l0 which are adapted to engage the inner wall of the banjo trame as suggested in Figure l, and also formed with said clamps are depending ears ll which are provided with. threaded openings l2 for threadedly receiving the clamp actuating screw bolts i3.y through opcninn'f-,l termed in the band l kand have their heads counter-suuk in recesses rcinicrced by metal cups l5 to prevent undue wear upon the band l by the heads of said bolts, as will be obvious.

ln attaching thel resonator or amplifier to a banjo. the banjo is placed upon the pads 1G secured on the upper surface of the flange 3, and the screw bolts 13 are actuated so that the banjo is tightly clamped in position by means ot the upstanding engaging portions l0 of' the clamps which act to securely hold the attachment to the banjo, with a view ot forming a solid rigid unit thereby, as will be readily apparent.

The resonating proclivities of the banjo are augmented and changes are made in the sounds ot 'the banjo when the attachment which forms the subject matter of the present invention is secured thereto. Posts or The screw bolts 13 extendr pins 4 are disposed between the sounding f board 2 and the flange a and act as a supporting means for the flange asy will be readily apparent and the clamps cooperate with each otherffor rigidly securing the at tachment and banjo in the manner as suggested.

It is, of course, to be understood, that the invention may be constructed in various other manners and the parts associated in different relations, and therefore, I do not desire to be limited in any manner, except as set 'orth in the claims hereunto appended.

Vilhat I claim is:

1. A banjo attachment constructed entirely ot laminated wood and comprising an annular band, .sounding board secured to one edge of said band and having its inner surface concaved, an annular flange secured to said band adjacent the opposite edge thereof and. being provided with a plurality of equidistantly spaced sound openings, a supporting means for said flange positioned between the flange and sounding board, and a. plurality ol' clamping members carried by said annular band, positioned inwardly of the inner edge of the flange.

2. A laminated wood amplifying attachment for banjos comprising an annular band, a concavo-convc-; sounding board secured to one edge of said band with its conc-ated surface disposed inwardly, an inwardly extending annu-lar flange secured to said band adjacent the opposite edge thereof and being provided with a plurality oi spaced circuniferentially arranged sound openings, a plurality ot spaced upright posts connecting said sounding board andA l'lange for supporting the latter in operative position and means carried by said annular band for threadedly receiving a plurality ot clan'iping members for detachably connecting the attachment to a banjo.

3. A laminated wood amplifying attachment tor banjos, comprising an annular band, a concave-convex sounding board attached t-o one 'edge of said band with its concaved surface disposed inwardly, an inwardly extending annular llange positioned in a groove toi-med within and adjacent the upper end of said band and being provided with a plurality of openings disposed adjacent the outer edgethereof, a plurality et' spaced upright posts disposed between said sounding board and ilange for supporting the latter, headed bolts passing through the annular band and clamping members threadedly secured to said bolts for engaging a banjo and clamping the attachment thereto to form a solid unit.

l. AnV amplifier attachment for banjos, comprising an annular band of laminated wood having recesses therein, a sounding board secured to one edge of said band, an inwardly extending annular flange secured adjacent the opposite edge th reet and being provided w'th a plurality of circumferentially arranged openings disposed adjacent the outerl edge thereof, a depending rim formed on the inner edge of said liange, and being provided with a plurality of spaced diagonally arranged openings, poss disposed between the sounding board and flange for supporting the latter in spaced relation with the board, cups arranged in the said recesses* headed bolts arranged in the cups and )assing through the annular band, clamping elements including depending ears threadedly secured to said bolts and upstanding porions also included in said clamping elements ior engaging a banjo for clamping the latter with the attachment in a manner to provide a rigid unit as and for the purpose specied.

ln testimony whereof I aiiix my signature lil ER'MN l?. MIETZ. 

